The Fianna Fail TD Mr John Ellis had his first formal meeting with representatives of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) to discuss how he can compensate creditors of his failed meat business. The meeting in Dublin last night lasted for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
Despite earlier indications, Mr Ellis is understood to have declined to meet with a delegation of farmers who were representing about 80 farmers from the northwest owed approximately £300,000 by Stanlow Trading. Mr Ellis and his two brothers, Caillian and Richard, were directors of this meat company which collapsed in the 1986.
Mr Ellis has said he had a "moral responsibility" to repay the farmers who are still owned money by the company.
The IFA group at last night's meeting was led by the organisation's President, Mr Tom Parlon. There was no confirmation whether Mr Ellis had made proposals to compensate the farmers. Mr Parlon had indicated last week that Mr Ellis was prepared to sell some of his assets to resolve the problem.
A spokeswoman for the IFA said last night that a further meeting with the Sligo-Leitrim TD has been set for next week.